Ecstasy, ketamine and crystal meth legalised in Ireland - for a day

Reports of Scots planning last-minute trips across the Irish Sea are unconfirmed

A LEGAL loophole has meant that Ecstasy, Ketamine and Crystal Meth are among a host of class A drugs which have been made legal in Ireland for a day.

According to The Journal, The Dail will sit tonight to pass emergency legislation after the 1977 Misuse of Drugs Act was found unconstitutional by the Irish Court of Appeal this morning.

As a result, the drugs that the Act prohibits have been made technically legal.

While the bill will be rushed through, it can only take effect the day after its signature, meaning that the law will not come into force until 12am on Thursday.

The loophole occurred after the court ruling found that the 1977 Act was being added to by ministers without recourse to the Irish Parliament.

This made it in violation of article 15 of the Irish constitution.

Ministerial orders had been used nine times since the Act's inception to ban the possession of various drugs. These included ecstasy, ketamine, magic mushrooms, benzos and other drugs.

The Irish Times reported that the Department of Health saying that as a result of the judgement "all substances controlled by means of Government Orders made under section 2(2) cease to be controlled with immediate effect, and their possession ceases to be an offence. These include ecstasy, benzodiazepines and new psychoactive substances, so-called 'headshop drugs'."

Reports that flights from Scotland to Ireland have quickly sold out are unconfirmed...